Bickerstaff to D'Antoni: Hurry up

EL SEGUNDO – Bernie Bickerstaff gave newly hired Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni a few insights about the players and their plans for San Antonio, then asked him for a favor.

"I told him to hurry up and get this seat ... it's hot," Bickerstaff told a crowd of reporters after practice Monday.

Bickerstaff, named interim Friday when the Lakers fired Mike Brown, will coach his final game with the Lakers on Tuesday when they face the once-beaten Spurs. If D'Antoni, who is recovering from knee replacement surgery, receives medical clearance, he is expected to be on the bench when the Lakers play Phoenix on Friday.

"I told him to hurry up and get this seat so I can get some of these microphones out of my face," Bickerstaff, 68, said.

Bickerstaff declined to talk about how D'Antoni was hired over Phil Jackson, preferring to stick to on-court matters.

"The thoughts I have is about tomorrow's basketball game," said Bickerstaff, who has guided the Lakers to consecutive victories. "I talked to Mike, we had some conversations ... and we told him basically what we were trying to do today, what we wanted to do tomorrow and he's on the same page with that."

Dwight Howard, one of several Lakers who expressed excitement over the prospect of playing for Jackson, was low-key in his comments. He said that the players' job "is to go out and play for the Lakers the best we can.

"We can't control who the coach is and we just want to play. We were happy to play for Coach Bickerstaff the past couple of games and we're excited for D'Antoni and his fast-paced offense and everything he's done with the teams he has as far as how he has pushed the ball up court. I think it will be good for Steve (Nash) and all of us.

Pau Gasol didn't have any reservations discussing how his hopes for a reunion with Jackson were dashed after reading his Twitter account.

"I think everyone had expectations about it," Gasol said. "We understand what Phil brings to the table and how successful he's always been and how successful he was here and what he means to the city and to the franchise.

"But it couldn't happen. It couldn't be for whatever the reasons and so we move forward. That's what we do as professionals."

In the end, Gasol said "we're all excited to have him here and learn his principles on offense and defense."

QUICK TRIP TO DOCTOR

Steve Blake was scheduled to have an ultrasound on his strained abdominal muscle Monday and needed a ride to the Orange County facility. So Kobe Bryant offered his helicopter.

Bryant, who lives in Newport Coast, often takes a helicopter from South County to the Lakers practice facility in El Segundo. This time, he had company on the return flight.

Lakers spokesman John Black said Blake needed to see Orange County-based Dr. Steven Yoon as soon as possible and the helicopter was the best and fastest option.

Blake, who started in place of injured Steve Nash, strained his lower abdominal muscle during Sunday's victory. The ultrasound showed a minor abdominal strain and he will not play against the Spurs. He is listed as day-to-day.